New Amex Card

[kyshel]

The newest version of the Platinum Card has oodles of bennies.
no foreign transaction fees
reimbursed $100 fee for Global Entry (5 yr longevity) (wwe already have it)
reimbursed $200 per account for airline fees and on board food/bevs
upgrade to Starwood Gold Status (w/out qualifying stays)
access to DL, US and AA lounges (w/out medallion status a very $$ item)
access to Priority Pass Lounges world wide (3 yr membership btw)
companion ticket with biz/first class int air ticket
more but I can't recall them all--like concierge, global assist, purchase insurance, points rewards, etc
So, the kicker is that the fee is high but IF you use all those things an have to pay...
$450 member add $175(?) for associate card.
SKy Club alone is $650 for couple but that doesn't include all airline partner lounges usually, so the Priority Pass is great.
we're happy for sure!!

[ichris]

That's interesting. Every year i keep pondering going for it. I just may if we start traveling a little more.

[kyshel]

We have a discount offered for renewing our Sky Club as employees but difference was only $15 without all the other "goodies". In the end when we called to cancel our Gold Skymiles card, they comped the annual fee of $95 so it worked out better than expected!! Each has its own attributes but Platinum rules for us! Since we're off to Bali and Thailand, the Priority Pass is a godsend. I can use it this month when I go to Frankfurt, Athens and Barcelona. Now...if I can just decide where we'll vacation at the end of the month...hoping Hacienda Tres Rios comes back SOON!!!

The Global Entry perk is so nice!! No forms to complete upon return to the States--skip the lines and right to the kiosk--tap tap--you're done! Then unless you have something to declare--we never do--pass right thru customs...VOILA!!

[shygirl724]

We have talked about upgrading to this card this year as we are taveling more. I am sorry to be clueless, but what is "global entry"?

Shy ~

[LL_Travelfan]

The newest version of the Platinum Card has oodles of bennies.
no foreign transaction fees
reimbursed $100 fee for Global Entry (5 yr longevity) (wwe already have it)
reimbursed $200 per account for airline fees and on board food/bevs
upgrade to Starwood Gold Status (w/out qualifying stays)
access to DL, US and AA lounges (w/out medallion status a very $$ item)
access to Priority Pass Lounges world wide (3 yr membership btw)
companion ticket with biz/first class int air ticket
more but I can't recall them all--like concierge, global assist, purchase insurance, points rewards, etc
So, the kicker is that the fee is high but IF you use all those things an have to pay...
$450 member add $175(?) for associate card.
SKy Club alone is $650 for couple but that doesn't include all airline partner lounges usually, so the Priority Pass is great.
we're happy for sure!!

We have had the AMEX Accolades Card for years which has given us the Priority Pass for free. However, as of late, the Priority Pass and its access to the various lounges has shrunk tremendously since American Admirals Club, the United Sky Lounges, etc. have been withdrawn and no longer allow access to the its Lounges with the Priority Pass. As a matter of fact, the Priority Club has been renamed Lounge Cub and its booklet is a fraction of the size of the previous Priority Lounge booklet. Check with www.loungeclub.com to find if the lounges are worthwhile. Often the lounges are not very conveniently located, and therefore of little use.

[kyshel]

well,with the Plat Card the only airline clubs N/A are CO/UA due to merge. The Priority Pass offers access to 600 clubs in 300+ airports worldwide. I have no idea what Priority Club aka Lounge Club is--it's not the same as what I mention in my post. You seem to have to have two different companies confused.

[LL_Travelfan]

K, you are right, Priority Pass and Lounge Club are two different animals. Our Accolades, AMEX card pulled a dirty trick on us. They replaced the Priority Pass with the Lounge Club which is much less desirable. Although are you sure that the only Priority Pass exclusions are the CO/UA lounges? For the last two years we were no longer allowed in the AA Admirals Club Lounge with our Priority Pass, even when flying AA. That was a bummer since we mostly fly AA.

[kyshel]

The restriction on UA/CO Lounges is from Amex Airport Club Access Program, from which I omitted Airspace Lounge (only one right now Concourse D, BWI--more to come--are you seeing that BJ3?) Since we never fly BWI it slipped my mind.
Anyway, for the Global Entry and airline fees and club/lounge access,. it's already more than $600.
I love the Starwood Upgrades--that's a great bonus which often includes breakfast and wifi, as well as room upgrades as avail. We stayed at one in Hua Hin, Thailand and it was an exceptional value (but we had to qualify w/numerous stays prior!) We still talk about the breakfast buffet--I think we ate all the types of cuisine and it took us nearly 2 hours to eat! Our room was upgraded to deluxe walk-out pool w/free wifi. Those bonuses would have been over $100 day. I LOVE PERKS!!

Check out:
https://www295.americanexpress.com/c...rityPassSelect

[omegaet]

We have used the AMEX Platinum for years and actually find most years the 'perks' offset the annual fee. Regarding the $200 airline incidentals credit, I just wish the card did not lock you into only one selection for the entire year (although we did max out our $200 credits using Spirit as our choice). I like and use the Priority Pass benefit, but I hate paying an additional $27 for a guest - some of the clubs are better than others-btw the club at SJO is very, very small and the drink and snack selection is limited and expensive).

[kyshel]

we each have a card and don't usually travel others so the guest fee is not an issue for us. I doubt there is a lounge in LIR our choice of CR airports, but good to know.